Launceston Airport

Launceston Airport
File:Launceston Airport Logo.JPG
IATA: LST ICAO: YMLT
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Australia Pacific Airports Corporation Limited
Operator	Australia Pacific Airports (Launceston) Pty Ltd
Serves	Launceston
Location	Western Junction
Elevation AMSL	562 ft / 171 m
Coordinates	41°32′42″S 147°12′54″E
Website	www.launcestonairport.com.au
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 14R/32L 1,981 6,499 Asphalt 14L/32R 700 2,297 Grass 18/36 690 2,264 Grass
Source: Australian AIP

Launceston Airport (IATA: LST, ICAO: YMLT) is a regional airport on the outskirts of Launceston, Tasmania. Situated in the rural area of Western Junction, the airport is located 15 km (9.3 mi) from the Launceston City Centre. Hobart International Airport and Launceston Airport are the only two airports in Tasmania to reach one million passenger movements per year. And like its Hobart counterpart Launceston is a curfew free airport. In the 2007/2008 Financial Year, Launceston Airport recorded a record 1.1 million passengers. Up 10% on the previous year. During the first three months of 2008, 309,000 passengers passed through Launceston Airport, the most in any previous yearly quarter. Up 11% on the previous year.

History

Virgin Blue passengers disembarking at Launceston Airport

After the formation of the Tasmanian Aero Club in 1927, the building of the first air travel facility in Tasmania on the site, the Western Junction Aerodrome, began and was first used in 1930, with the aerodrome being officially opened in 1929. In 1962 a plan for major redevelopment of the airport was approved. This included strengthening of all pavements, a runway extension, and soon after a new terminal building. The site was officially reopened that same year as Launceston Airport. In October 1982 the runway was further upgraded to Boeing 767 standard. In 1998, the airport was privatized, now being owned by a group known as Australia Pacific Airports Corporation Limited, who is also the owner of Melbourne Airport, in conjunction with Launceston City Council. The collapse of Ansett Australia in 2001, the introduction of Virgin Blue and the Qantas subsidiary Jetstar Airways in 2001 & 2004, and the creation of the Australian Low Cost Airline market have all contributed to a dramatic increase in aircraft movements at Launceston Airport. In 2007 Launceston Airport celebrated the milestone of reaching one million passenger movements per year as well as the introduction of Tiger Airways Australia.

Passenger statistics

Launceston Airport's passenger numbers have increased dramatically in recent years, significantly exceeding the airports forecasts in the Airport Master Plan 2005. The passenger numbers achieved in the 2007-08 fiscal year were not anticipated until at least fiscal year 2019-20.

Statistics for Launceston Airport

Year	Total Passengers	Aircraft Movements
1999-00	540,000	27,600
2000-01	520,000	26,400
2001-02	530,000	21,600
2002-03	580,000	14,900
2003-04	670,000	15,300
2004-05	820,000	15,000
2005-06	920,000	15,000
2006-07	990,000	14,500
2007-08	1,098,000	17,100

Busiest Domestic Passenger Routes out of Launceston Airport (YE June 2008)

Rank	Airport	Passengers handled	% Change
1	Melbourne Airport	821,100	13.1
2	Sydney Airport	212,300	5.1

Airlines and destinations

Tiger Airways will add another Launceston to Melbourne service, on December 15.

Destinations by Region
Domestic (Australia) - Brisbane, Flinders Island, Melbourne-Tullamarine, Sydney

Airlines operating to/from Launceston Airport

Airlines	Destinations
Airlines of Tasmania	Flinders Island
Australian air Express	Melbourne-Tullamarine
Jetstar Airways	Brisbane, Melbourne-Tullamarine, Sydney
Qantas QantasLink	Melbourne-Tullamarine
Tiger Airways Australia	Melbourne-Tullamarine
Virgin Blue	Melbourne-Tullamarine, Sydney

Jetstar Airbus A320 taking off from Launceston Airport

QantasLink aircraft taking off from Launceston

Terminal building

The terminal building services the four interstate airlines: QantasLink, Jetstar, Virgin Blue and Tiger Airways Australia.

Passengers departing Launceston leave via Gate 2 for QantasLink and Jetstar, and Gate 3 for Virgin Blue and Tiger Airways Australia. Passengers enter the terminal building through the gate closest to the stand where their aircraft is parked (Gates 1-4)

Inside the terminal, there is information on what to do, what to eat and where to stay in Launceston and surrounds by the means of pamphlets, the directory board and the tourist 'touch' computer. There is one food outlet in the terminal, Kavihan Cafe, which serves hot and cold food. There is also an automated teller machine and postal facilities in the terminal. Presently the small terminal is inadequate for the amount of passengers that pass through each day. At times where there are 3-4 planes on the tarmac the terminal can become extremely congested.

Terminal Upgrade

A much needed $20 million dollar upgraded has just been started in June and is expected to be finished in mid 2009.

The project will consist of three main parts that will provide Checked Bag Screening and new check in counter areas, new baggage reclaim procedure, with the use of two baggage carousels and new passenger lounges and screening facilities. This will approximately double the floor area of the terminal allowing for greater space passenger movement and associated activities.

The first of the three parts of the project, the check bag screening and check in counters will be operational by December 2008, as required by Federal legislation for passenger security. The other two areas will come on stream in stages over the remaining construction period.

The refurbishment of the departures area will allow a single location for all airlines to provide check in facilities at the 12 new counters. These counters are linked to a new baggage handling system to a new check bag screening process for all baggage travelling on aircraft.

A revised passenger screening point will increase the level of space provided to passengers during the screening process.

For departing passengers new apron level gate lounges of approximately 1200m2 provide space and security for passengers waiting to board aircrafts. For arriving passengers, a new baggage handling building of 500m2 incorporating two new baggage carousels will improve baggage reclaim activities for passengers.

For attending public, an expansion of an additional 1000m2 of the main passenger public lounge area and refurbished retail areas, will provide additional space and seating areas with a view of the apron and runway.

Ground transport

Launceston Airport has a Short Term and a Long Term Car Park, as well as an Overflow Carpark that can accommodate 150 Cars, and is accessible any time.

Airport Shuttle Buses operate mainly from the City Centre to the airport, but they will take you to your residences if negotiated. As with all major Australian Airports, Taxis line up outside the terminal building, ready to take you to your destination.

Accidents and incidents

• In May 2003, Qantas Flight 1737 was hijacked shortly after takeoff from Melbourne Airport en route to Launceston. The flight attendants and passengers managed to subdue and restrain the hijacker, and the plane landed safely at Melbourne.

Launceston Airport Business Park

In a separate development adjacent to the airport site there is a A$200m business park under construction which will include a Caltex service station, an Airport Motor Inn, retail showrooms and also plans for a A$36m Big Box retail development.

See also

• List of airports in Australia
• Transport in Australia

External links

• Launceston Airport